It is mandatory to take appropriate action if a student makes comments, threatens, or uses any action to threaten suicide.

Locate appropriate help immediately.

Notify parents immediately. Discuss with parents a course of action.

Instruct someone to stay with the suicidal person in a place separate from others and try to keep them calm until professional help arrives.

DO NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE!

Staff with your Administrator, Counselor, and/or School Psychologist and if appropriate call:

Police 911

GLMH (Grand Lake Mental Health Center) crisis unit: 1-800-722-3611

Mental Health Professional Counselor the student is currently seeing

A School Psychologist or GLMH can come out immediately and provide crisis service to determine if a student should be placed inpatient or needs to receive outpatient counseling. A GLMH therapist can see any child in crisis without parental consent or if a parent cannot be reached. They will attempt to contact the guardian and follow up with the family the next day to make sure the student is stable.

Notify your Administrator of the situation.

WAYS TO HELP A SUICIDAL PERSON

Be nonjudgmental. Do not debate the issues of suicide.

Offer empathy, not sympathy.

Do not offer empty words of reassurance.

Do not be sworn to secrecy; seek support.

Remove available methods of suicide when possible.

Encourage the person in crisis to seek professional help.

Take action. Know where help is available.

Take every suicide threat, comment, or act seriously.

At least one person needs to stay with the student, appoint someone to call the parents, someone to call GLMH and or the Police if needed.

Have someone document every action you have taken in the circumstances.

Make sure parents follow up with the appropriate intervention and if parents refuse to help their student then you need to make a referral to the police department and child welfare.